Monday March 18th, 2024 10:27PM

Baseball: GHS rides Game 1 comeback to second round sweep (VIDEO)

GAINESVILLE -- Anthony Carrera dug into the batter’s box, facing the stuff of daydreams: Bases loaded, full count, two outs in a playoff game on the line in extra innings.

The Gainesville High outfielder did not get the home run that all youths envision in that situation -- he simply drew the walk that proved as emphatic as any line drive.

Carrera took a low pitch from Evans reliever Kyle Anderson that forced home the winning run, clinching a 5-4, 9-inning victory for the Red Elephants and providing the platform for a two-game sweep in the second round of the Class AAAAA playoffs at Ivey-Watson Field.

“It was the kind of stuff you dream about as a kid hitting rocks in the backyard,” Carrera grinned after watching his teammates notch two runs in the ninth to knot the score at 4-4 and set up his game-clinching appearance. “I was just trying to settle down... It was a good at-bat.”

Gainesville had three straight impressive at-bats, as Michael Curry and Caleb Whitenton also drew walks to load the bases. Carrera battled the count full and fouled off one pitch before sealing the victory with the walk that scored Mikey Gonzalez and marked the Red Elephants’ second comeback within Game 1 of the best-of-three series.

“We were all so hyped after that; it was just crazy,” Carrera said. “And we saw they were kind of down, so we took advantage of that.”

Gainesville cruised to a 4-0 victory in Game 2, thanks in large part to the bat of Michael Curry and the arm of Caleb Whitenton, as Curry crushed two of his three home runs in the series, while Whitenton pitched a complete game shutout.

“We called Caleb out in between games, because they were going with their ace in Game 2,” Gainesville coach Jeremy Kemp said. “We let (Whitenton) know they thought they could get the win against him, and he went out there fired up.”

The victory clinched a fourth straight spot in the state quarterfinal round for the Red Elephants (24-5), where they will play host to the winner of the South Effingham vs. Alexander match-up (the two teams split on Wednesday). The next series starts on Tuesday at Ivey-Watson, time to be determined.

Gainesville will enter the next round likely still buzzing from Wednesday’s intense series.

GAME 1, Gainesville 5, Evans 4, 9 innings
The Red Elephants fell behind 2-0 after three innings and then 4-2 in the top of the ninth but charged back each time.

The second comeback featured plenty of patient work at the plate against Evans standout Kyle Alexander, on in relief.

Gainesville pulled within 4-3 after loading the bases -- though a double-play for Evans looked to have Gainesville on the ropes with two outs. Yet Gainesville’s Gonzalez drilled a shot to second base that forced an error and allowed Banks Griffith to knot the score at 4-4. From there the Red Elephants drew three straight walks, including the game-winner from Carrera that scored Gonzalez.

Kyle Anderson walked four batters in the inning, including Curry, Whitenton and Carrera in a row to seal the victory. 

“We want hitters to be aggressive, but they were smart with their approach,” Kemp said. “Carrera put a lot of pressure on their pitcher, and he’s a great pitcher. That at-bat was just huge.”

The stunning rally came after Evans pulled ahead 4-2 in the top of the frame courtesy an error and an RBI infield single from Colin Dominy, as Evans faced its third Gainesville pitcher of the contest in Harrison Styles -- who tossed one inning in relief. Curry also pitched the eighth, after starter Jonathan Gettys gave way following 7 innings of work, where he allowed two runs on seven hits and struck out seven batters.

Gainesville showed late in regulation that it would not give in easily, knotting the score in the sixth inning, as Gonzalez ripped a double that scored Drew Wright to make it 2-2. The hit proved just the fourth allowed by Evans starter Hunter Dollard, who was untouchable through three innings, as the Knights built a 2-0 lead.

Yet Curry stepped in to get the Red Elephants’ bats going, cranking a solo home run in the fourth that halved Evans’ lead at 2-1. He was far from finished, however.

“We played awful for five innings, but it didn’t show on the scoreboard,” Kemp said. “We hung around, and we made the most of it.”

Evans pounced in the first, Dominy driving in Austin Gobel for the 1-0 lead, though Gettys limited the damage after facing seven batters to open the contest.

The Knights doubled their lead in the third, Conner Murray belting his own solo homer to lead the frame. Matt Anderson and Kyle Anderson followed with back-to-back hits, but the Red Elephants’ defense held firm, recording three straight outs.

Gainesville’s defense also impressed in the sixth, Wright gunning down Dominy at home plate before Brandon Sewell -- who finished 3 for 4 at the plate -- tracked down a long fly ball in right centerfield. The stand allowed the Red Elephants to even the contest in the bottom half of the frame -- a scoreline that held into extra innings, where Gainesville once again pulled off the comeback.

“These guys love each other, and they love playing with each other... They’re never going to give up,” Kemp said. “We may run out of innings, but we’re not going to give up.”

GAME 2: Gainesville 4, Evans 0
Curry staked the Red Elephants to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, cranking his second home run of the day.

It was all Whitenton would need, as the senior kept Evans off-balance, pitching a complete game shutout. The senior allowed just four hits and struck out eight, as the Red Elephants surged to the victory.

“Caleb’s performance was just huge,” Kemp said. 

Gainesville gave Whitenton plenty of breathing room in the third, as Wright scored on an error and Curry launched his third homer of the day, a two-run shot for a 4-0 lead.

Wright finished the game 2 for 2 with a run scored, while Sewell notched his fourth hit of the series. Gonzalez also continued his penchant for clutch performances, scoring a run to go along with his Game 1 RBI double and driven ball that led to a tie game in the ninth.

Carrera also gunned down Evans’ Conner Murray at home plate with a dart from centerfield, halting Evans’ best scoring opportunity of the contest.

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